Time Out #125 - Inspired by Words

I knew right away what I wanted to use for a sentiment on my card for Time Out which is the opposite of how I usually roll.  I make a card and then agonize over what sentiment to put with it.  This time I agonized over the design of the card.  I practiced a few things that ended up in the recycle bin until I decided to use something in my WTDWT (what to do with this) drawer.

I tried a few stencil monoprints for another challenge and this one didn't make the cut but I liked it enough to save it.  I thought it looked perky enough to use with the copper embossed sentiment from Hero Arts, one that's been in my stash and unused for way too long.  Here's what inspired me.

I hope you all live your life with joy.

Time Out #121 and Fusion - Fall Porch

I'm getting ready to head to North Carolina to help my brother and sister-in-law do some clean up after Hurricane Florence.  Before I go I had to make and schedule all my design team requirements and then I still had time to make a few cards for fun.  I made this card for Time Out but then I saw the photo at Fusion and knew it would work there too.

First I smooshed two mixed media panels with Oxides, one in yellow and green and the other in reds, oranges, greens and yellows.  When they were dry I cut the leaves from Hero Arts and heat embossed the veins in copper to match the sentiment from Catherine Pooler.  I used my trusty Press 'n Seal to pick up the leaves once I had them placed where I wanted and put tape runner on them.  It's such an easy way to keep everything together.

I plan to take some coloring along with me, especially since I know the The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge starts today.  I got the chance to meet Kathy at MFT in September and I love her enthusiasm for coloring and for urging us to take time to color.  Even 10 minutes a day is enough and I will try to do that while I'm gone.  I don't do Copic coloring so I'm taking my PolyChromos pencils . I need the practice so that will be good.

Thanks for dropping by.  I truly am grateful for you and your visits.

CAS Christmas, Watercolor and Mix-Up

I thought I'd make it easy for the gals who run the CAS challenges and show all three of my cards on one post.  No going from post to post to comment. 

First up is CAS Christmas where the prompt is tree.

I started with three layers of UTEE embossing powder on a scrap of cs and added glitter.  The paper was too thick to cut with the SSS tree so I trimmed the edges and just cut the outline from green and glued it on.  I found the star brad among my embellishments and have no idea where it came from. The SSS sentiment is cut from red foil, layered on white for stability.  Here's a close up.

The prompt at CAS Watercolor is sunflower and I used the PTI botanical block.

The image and sentiment from Verve are embossed with copper and the flower is colored with Zigs.

My favorite is for CAS Mix-Up.  We were to do stencil monoprints, and they have several videos listed on the blog to give you ideas on how to proceed.  I played around with a couple ideas before I ended up with something I liked.

I made my own tattersall plaid by inking up the SSS grid stencil with Distress Inks in Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo.  When it was dry I reinked with Blueprint Sketch and aligned the stencil between the first stamping.  The little dog from Gerda Steiner was laying on my desk and the colors worked beautifully with the plaid so I popped him up and added the sentiments from the same set. My choice is watercoloring and die cut.

It's been fun and I hope you like them.

Less Is More #367

I was waiting for my stencils from Funky Fossil to arrive before I could make my card for Less Is More.  I had more elaborate plans but then remembered this is a CAS challenge so I simplified.

I used the Mandala stencil and embossed a portion of it top and bottom with copper embossing powder.  You all know how difficult it is to capture the shine. I did get it on the top and the bottom looks the same IRL.  A simple sentiment from HA was stamped in the middle.

Thanks for dropping by.

Fusion - 4th Anniversary, Little Red Wagon #428 and Seize the Birthday

It's about the elements at the Fusion challenge and I did a true fusion this time.

Patterned paper for the wood, copper heat embossing on the letters and strip bring a masculine birthday card to life. 

It's Boy Oh Boy at Little Red Wagon so this card is going to them and to Seize the Birthday where the theme is Anything Goes.

Thanks for dropping by.

CASology #280

CASology is giving us two weeks for challenge #280 and guess who has her card done already.  I'm either way ahead of schedule or just squeaking in.  I guess it's whenever the inspiration strikes. 

I just had to have that HA kindness set and this it's maiden voyage so to speak.  I paired it with a PTI botanical and embossed them both in - gasp - copper.  Not my usual but I wanted to do something different and that made me decide on an orange rose (for you Michele) that I colored with Zigs.

Thanks for dropping by whenever that happens to be during this busy holiday season.

CAS(E) This Sketch #240 and SSS Monday Challenge

Sometimes I'm amazed at how people are inspired by sketches.  They can be simple and direct or full of imagination.  I guess I'm not very imaginative this week because my card for CAS(E) this Sketch is rather direct.

I'm trying to make more masculine cards and I thought this would be one although it may look too much like a woman's bracelet to some.  I stuck two pieces of cs together before cutting out the CAS-ual Friday die and embossing it with copper.  I wanted the thickness but then decided to also add a black layer and leave the center in.  Those I filled with Glossy Accents. The sentiment is from SSS.

Because I used metallic embossing powder, I'm also sending this to SSS Monday Challenge - Heavy Metal.

Thanks for dropping by.  I hope your week is off to a great start.